Wars Israel Can’t Win

Despite a lengthy record of military success against more numerous opponents that has no equal in modern history, today Israel is facing new kinds of warfare. There is no doubt that the Israeli Defense Forces in full-on battle can still defeat the armies of any of the surrounding countries. Yet, that is not the shape of modern war. As a result, Israel today finds herself facing battles she is not equipped to fight and win.

Economic War

A demonic plan has been birthed in hell to destroy the nation of Israel— to literally bankrupt her and curse the nation. It is often called BDS: Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions. It is all about money. The plan is to turn worldwide public opinion against Israel, to isolate the Jewish nation, and to turn it into a pariah state, which no one will be willing to defend. It is a “Curse Israel” movement.

Pension funds globally have been joining the movement. The Rand Corporation reported that if the current trend continues, it would cost Israel more than $47 billion. Some of the most powerful names supporting this include George Soros and even Bill Gates. Universities around the world are also supporting the movement and count among their number some of America’s leading schools.

Israel is being blacklisted. For example, both the Luxembourg Pension Fund and the Norway Pension Fund have pulled out, but the most heartbreaking thing about this demonic conspiracy is church organizations who are practicing divestment. The Presbyterian Church of the USA is part of this movement, as is the United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church, the Quaker Friends Fiduciary Corporation, and the Mennonite Central Committee.

On one of my trips to Israel, I met with six leading pastors from the United States who are part of this movement. I could not comprehend the venom exploding from their mouths. I would have sworn they would have made wonderful pastors in the days of Adolf Hitler. As heartbreaking as it is to admit, this is precisely what happened in Nazi Germany before Hitler ushered in the Holocaust.

The anti-Semitic movement that was gaining momentum in Germany at that time did not employ guns or tanks. It was all done in the name of social justice, and Jews were the scapegoats. Unfortunately, the Church was part of it then and is part of it now.

Israeli companies like SodaStream have been targeted for boycotts simply because they operate in what is sometimes called “occupied territory:” the Bible lands of Judea and Samaria. If you wonder why a soft drink company is the target of a global conspiracy, you are beginning to see the reach of the BDS movement. Sadly, it has been very successful in harming Israel’s economy. Even some airlines are rearranging their flight schedules and dropping flights to Israel to avoid angering the enemies of the Jewish state.

Information War

[caption id="attachment_2704" align="alignright" width="485"] Palestinian students take part in a protest to show solidarity with Al-Aqsa mosque compound, October 22, 2015. Violence and protests against Israel have increased in frequency across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Photo credit: Abed Rahim Khatib/Flash90[/caption]

The Muslim world is filled with propaganda aimed at demonizing Jewish people and encouraging attacks against them. Palestinian young people are raised on a constant diet of cartoons and children’s programming that glorifies violence against Jewish people and praises those who kill them. Iranian leaders frequently and publicly call for the destruction of Israel. The former leader of Egypt called Jews “descendants of apes and pigs.”

While the open hatred and calls for violence spread, a more subtle and socially acceptable form of anti- Semitism that in the long run may be even more dangerous is spreading. There is a strain of underground hatred toward the Jewish people that expresses itself only as condemnations of what the nation of Israel does.

These sophisticated anti-Semites would never publicly disdain the Jewish people. Instead, they focus their attacks on consistently and systematically condemning everything the Israeli government does, with a particular focus on criticizing anything Israel does to protect its people from the unrelenting terrorist attacks and threats they face on a daily basis.

For example, former President Jimmy Carter famously referred to Israel as an “apartheid state” after the security fence was installed that cut the number of successful suicide terrorist attacks against Jewish people by more than 90%. In any rational world, a people should have the right to build a fence to keep out those who are trying to kill them. This normal behavior is viewed as oppressive only by those who are predisposed to find fault with Israel.

In a sense, Israel has become a “collective Jew” and thus a safe target for anti-Semitic attacks to be openly launched while being plausibly denied. It is a travesty that well-educated, well-connected, and supposedly sophisticated people peddle ridiculous falsehoods about Israel on a regular basis. The propaganda claims of Palestinians and their supporters are accepted at face value, no matter how blatantly false they are.

Not long ago, a video made the rounds online showing a Palestinian victim “killed” by an Israeli rocket laughing and moving under the sheet that covered his body once he thought the cameras were off. Recycled footage is frequently presented as new, and innocents killed by Hamas or other terrorist groups are often pictured as the victims of Israel instead. This would be humorous if the lies were not so frequently believed...with such lethal results.

Islamic governments have significant ownership stakes in most of the major American media networks, and as a result, there is a definite slant to the news that is presented from the Middle East. Often, when I have been in Israel over the past several years, I have seen an event unfold only to find that the description offered by the liberal media is completely different than what actually transpired. This false information plays a crucial role in encouraging and justifying opposition to Israel.

The world is being sold a bill of lies, and far too many are believing what is presented in the media and online as the truth. Of course, when a lie is believed, people act on it, just as they would if it were the truth. As a result, Israel is often hated and blamed for things that are completely fabricated. This organized campaign of lies requires that we respond with the truth.

Spirit War

Our government and even many Christians do not view what is happening in the Middle East as a spirit war. They see the military wars, and some recognize the economic wars, but almost everyone is missing the most important part of the conflict: the spirit war. I blew the trumpet to sound this warning 35 years ago. My book Israel: America’s Key to Survival had on its cover an American flag being cut in half by an Islamic sword. The hatred of radical Muslims is not just directed at Israel; they want to destroy us as well.

That book had its genesis in a frightening and prophetic briefing I received in Israel. On September 23, 1980, Reuven Hecht, senior advisor to Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and I had dinner at the home of Isser Harel, the head of Mossad, Israel’s intelligence organization. During the meal I asked this question: Will terrorism ever come to America?

Harel replied that America had the power but not the will; terrorists had the will but not the power. “All that can change with time,” he said. “Arab oil buys more than tents. You kill a fly and rejoice; we kill one, and 100 more come to the funeral. Yes, I fear it will come. I believe the first terror attack will be on New York City’s tallest building.”

The destruction of Israel (the “little Satan”) and the destruction of America (the “great Satan”) are linked together as steps toward the same goal. There is no doubt that we are dealing with principalities and powers in spiritual warfare. Certainly the region has long been the center of opposition to God’s plan for mankind. In light of this unmistakable truth, how should we respond? The Bible gives the answer:

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:10-13).

More than 20 years ago I was mocked when I told America’s leaders that a terrorist attack would be launched against New York City and the World Trade Center towers. They told me I was delusional—that the Islamic religion did not pose a threat. I knew better. I had been briefed by Isser Harel, the former head of Mossad, who told me that exactly such an attack would come.

Even after the first World Trade Center bombing in 1993, few heeded the warning. They simply did not understand the role spiritual warfare plays in world events. Only after the tragedy of 9/11 did some people start to pay attention. Even after that demonstration of the purpose and commitment of our enemies, some still refuse to acknowledge the reality of what we face.

John the Revelator described present day Iraq (ancient and future Babylon in the spirit realm) perfectly: “He cried out in a powerful voice, ‘Fallen! Babylon the Great has fallen! She has become a home for demons. She is a prison for every evil spirit, every unclean bird, and every unclean and hated beast.’” (Revelation 18:2)

During the lead up to the war in 2003, I wrote a book called Beyond Iraq: The Next Move. In it I said that God-fearing Americans must fall on our knees and pray, or our military victory would be short-lived. Unless the demonic forces behind terrorism are confronted and defeated, they will return again and again.

In 2007, I wrote the #1 New York Times bestseller Final Move Beyond Iraq. I pointed out that the moral relativistic view of liberals made it hard for them to see moral issues clearly. They reject absolute standards of good and evil of right and wrong. In their worldview, man is perfectible, human nature is on the path toward enlightenment, and the concept of original sin is primitive.

[caption id="attachment_2706" align="alignright" width="231"] Dr. Evans, his son Michael, praying with Mike Atkins the day the contract to purchase the building was signed.[/caption]

This is a deadly false belief. When they refuse to confront evil, it does not cease to exist. It only becomes stronger. The jihadist terrorists strike at the body; the moral relativist strikes at the soul. Both are evils that must be confronted. No battle can ever be won in the physical world until it is first fought and won in the spirit realm. This is our calling today—the message from Middle East that you and I must hear and to which we must respond.

“If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

The bottom line is that Israel alone is simply not equipped to fight and win any of these three battles. That is why we must act now...and that is why the Friends of Zion Heritage Center is so critical to the future of the Jewish people and the nation of Israel.

A Spirit Army in Action

In the days of the Elisha, the king of Syria was outraged because the prophet kept warning Israel of his plans against them, and he could not win a battle. So he decided to capture Elisha and thus end Israel’s protection. Under the cover of darkness, he placed a large military force around the city of Dothan where Elisha lived. The Syrian king thought he had everything under control, but he failed to understand the power of God’s spirit army, and as a result, Elisha was perfectly safe despite the great military might arrayed against him.

And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. —2 Kings 6:15-17

In response to the prayers of God’s people, forces in the spirit realm that dwarf every earthly power are prepared for battle. This is why those of us who believe the promises of God and the power of prayer have such a great responsibility. We hold the keys to the spirit armies. They move when we pray. When we do not, they sit idle. The prayers of Believers around the world are vital to the fight for Israel’s future—and that is why the work of the Jerusalem Prayer Team is so vitally important.

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The Jerusalem Prayer Team with Dr. Michael D. Evans exists to build Friends of Zion to guard defend and protect the Jewish people and to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We pray for peace in Jerusalem because the Scriptures tell us to in Psalm 122:6. The Jerusalem Prayer Team was inspired from the 100-year long prayer meeting for the restoration of Israel held in the ten Boom family home in Haarlem, Holland. We are committed to encouraging others to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and God's Chosen People. The Jerusalem Prayer Team mailing address is PO BOX 30000 Phoenix, AZ 85046 or you can call us at 1-888-966-8472. The Jerusalem Prayer Team is a dba of the Corrie ten Boom Fellowship. The Corrie ten Boom Fellowship is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization and is registered with the IRS, Fed Tax ID# 75-2671293. All donations to CTBF (less the value of any products or services received) are tax-deductible as allowed by law. Donations made to the Jerusalem Prayer Team are put to work immediately and are not refundable.